A Brave Man:

A Brave Man:

The Niagara Scow Rescue Mission

Kathryn Cairns

Port2Port - 2025

The Niagara Scow, often called the Old Scow or Iron Scow, is more than just a boat that broke loose from its towing tug close to Niagara Falls --- it has become a figure of human courage and bravery. The Scow was abandoned, as there was no safe way to dispose of it, leaving it to rust. However, the importance of the Scow, which lies behind its daring rescue mission completed by William "Red" Hill Sr., should not be forgotten.¹ This blog post explores how the Niagara Scow, once just a dumping barge, has become a historic artifact in Niagara Falls. Now rusting and moving downstream, it stands as a reminder of a remarkable rescue mission.²

Figure 1: Niagara Scow stranded on the brink of Niagara Fall,1918

In August 1918, a miraculous rescue operation occurred, reported in Figure 1 ³,where two workmen became stranded on a scow above the Horseshoe Falls at one of the world's most magnificent natural wonders, Niagara Falls. Gustave F. Lofberg and Frank Harris were aboard a flat-bottomed barge now named the Niagara Scow (also called the Iron Scow or Old Scow).⁴ While being towed upstream from Horseshoe Falls, the line suddenly snapped, leaving the two men stranded aboard the Sow as it floated towards the edge of the falls - just 766 meters away. Moments later, the vessel ran aground on submerged rocks.⁵ As the two men were stranded amongst the powerful water current, it was reported that Harris took a rope and tied himself to a free barrel aboard. In contrast, Lofberg took a rope and tied himself to the Scow to prevent himself from falling overboard while the vessel was caught on rocks that prevented the vessel from drifting further.⁶

The rescue operation began with local authorities along with the Niagara Parks Police creating a team to come and assist with the rescue; a rescue boat was not an option in this situation, so authorities decided to use a grappling gun that was used to shoot out a rope from a far distance; they shot it from the Toronto Powerhouse.⁷ The dire situation had local authorities waiting for a more powerful grappling gun to be provided by the US Coast Guard; once they arrived, they quickly sent out a lifeline over to the vessel where the Lofberg and Harris were able to make it back to land through the breeches buoy.⁸

Figure 2: William "Red" Hill Sr. swinging himself to wreckage over the Niagara River.

This rescue mission was particularly significant because of one man - William "Red" Hill Sr. - a renowned daredevil celebrated for his past acts of bravery and lifesaving rescues. ⁹ During the long 17 hours that Lofberg and Harris were stuck on the barge, Hill bravely went out multiple times throughout the dark hours of the night to assist in removing any knots that were entangling the buoy line and lead the men to safety in the early morning of August 7th, as pictured in Figure 2.¹⁰ As a result of Hill's heroic action during the rescue of the Scow, he was awarded the Royal Canadian Humane Association for his assistance in the rescue. He was also awarded a plaque representing the rescue that was commemorated on the 100th anniversary in 2018 during the Park Commissions.¹¹

In 2019, the Niagara Scow moved for the first time in 100 years, allowing this story and rescue mission to be relived by many people.¹²Although this brought much attention back to the Scow, some were saddened to hear that it has begun to rust and move down the river as it's the only monument left that acknowledges the rescue mission that William "Red" Hill Sr so bravely undertook.